UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON Scientific Diving Specialist DESCRIPTION OF WORK: These positions execute research protocols in accordance with input from scientists or members of the mission team. These positions provide the principal technical expertise and assistance on a wide range of disciplines necessary to conduct advanced underwater research or academic investigations safely and efficiently and to assist scientists in accomplishing specific research goals and objectives. Responsibilities involve operation and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation used in support of diving and in support of the underwater projects. Responsibilities may include assisting in training activities necessary to the project, as well as communication with scientists and administrators. ROLE DESCRIPTIONS BY COMPETENCY LEVEL Contributing Journey Advanced Positions at this level apply working knowledge of scientific principles or technical skills to review dive plans associated with research proposals and communicate with researchers to ensure science objectives are met. They serve as lead diver to assume responsibility for diving activities, safely plan research dives, keep dive logs, monitor life support equipment, and serve as emergency response lead. They also operate small vessels in support of diving, remotely operated vehicles, or research instrumentation. They manage and analyze data for internal and external reporting and may evaluate or modify QA/QC procedures based on changing conditions. They ensure compliance with safety standards and operational procedures and/or equipment use. They certify others in diving related emergency response medical instruction and may have advanced certifications. Positions at this level participate as working divers on a research team using general knowledge and technical skills to effectively and safely carry out previously determined methodologies. They understand basic research study design and general methods of data collection to implement quality control procedures. They maintain dive facilities including supplies and equipment to industry standards for life support and comply with safety measures and guidelines such as annual inspections/certifications and treatment of flammable materials and hazardous waste. Standard operations, procedures and protocols are followed for documentation and logs. They recognize and initiate emergency responses as required by safety standards and operational procedures. Positions at this level apply considerable knowledge and technical skills to plan research field work or propose alternative methods and techniques. Serves as a dive supervisor to coordinate missions and projects as the liaison with scientists, vessel personnel and technical personnel. They manage dive locker and ancillary facilities, including budget and personnel, and prioritize the use of all project resources. They manage QA/QC and compliance; prepare annual and technical reports for internal and external agencies. They collaborate with peers in professional development activities. They certify others in advanced diving techniques and/or other diving related medical instruction. They may propose changes to safety standards and operational procedures. 1
Competencies Professional Knowledge Planning & Organizing Work Communication Facility Management Definition Professional skill and knowledge of underwater diving methods and techniques applicable to scientific operations. Knowledge of the scientific and technical methods used to conduct research or accomplish various other mission objectives. Knowledge of related technology, instruments and equipment. Knowledge of safe scientific diving procedures, practices and standards in a variety of underwater environments. Ability to serve as a working diver, lead diver or supervisor, and/or mission coordinator during air, mixed gas, decompression and/or saturation research diving operations involving a variety of diving technologies. Ability to communicate with scientists, academic administrators, mission team members, vendors and the general public. Ability to complete appropriate documentation, logs, inventory and reports. Ability to provide oversight of technical programs and administrative activities of dive lockers, ancillary equipment and facilities. Ability to coordinate and manage facilities, equipment, supplies and related resources; understands and complies with safety measures to maintain a safe working environment. Equipment Operation & Maintenance Ability and knowledge of appropriate procedures for using and maintaining specific equipment or technical instruments associated with scientific diving operations that meet defined quality, quantity and industry standards in a safe, efficient and effective manner. Training/Instruction Ability to instruct and train staff, students, scientists and other personnel in diving, equipment operation, maintenance and diving procedures within the scope of their qualifications. Ability to perform demonstration quality skills for training/instructional purposes. 2
Note: Competency statements are progressive and not all competencies apply to every position/employee. Evaluate only those that apply. General knowledge and Considerable knowledge of technical skills to effectively scientific diving and technical and safely carry out previously skills to modify procedures in determined methodologies. response to changing Knowledge of basic study conditions. Ability to operate design and general diving small vessels in support of methods of data collection diving, remotely operated applicable in scientific vehicles, or research operations. Working knowledge instrumentation. Considerable of safe scientific diving knowledge of safe scientific procedures, practices and diving procedures, practices standards. and standards. Knowledge - Professional - Professional skill and knowledge of underwater diving methods and techniques applicable in scientific operations. Knowledge of the scientific and technical methods used to conduct research or accomplish various other mission objectives. Knowledge of related technology, instruments and equipment. Knowledge of safe diving procedures, practices and standards in a variety of underwater environments. Advanced knowledge of safe scientific diving procedures, practices and standards in the planning process for field research. Ability to propose alternative methods and techniques. Ability to adapt work processes and methods based on findings and mission objectives. Ability to collaborate with peers and participate in professional development activities. Basic Knowledge - The span of knowledge minimally necessary to complete defined assignments. Working Knowledge The span of knowledge necessary to independently complete defined assignments to product an effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of the research objective. Full Knowledge The broad scope of knowledge demonstrated on the job that is beyond journey competencies. Ability to serve as working Ability to serve as lead diver diver as part of dive team to with responsibility for all meet project goals and safety diving activities to safely plan requirements. Ability to research and operational organize and prioritize research support dives. Ability to objectives. Ability to safely coordinate and manage taskloaded monitor life support sensors and divers underwater to equipment and follow meet project goals and safety established safe diving standards. Ability to keep dive protocols. logs and records. Ability to serve as first emergency response medical lead. Planning & Organizing Work Ability to serve as working diver, lead diver, dive supervisor, and/or mission coordinator during air, mixed gas, decompression and/or saturation research diving operations involving a variety of diving technologies. Ability to serve as a dive supervisor to coordinate missions and projects of varied complexity working with scientists, vessel personnel, technical personnel and others to achieve best possible scientific diving research outcomes within safety parameters. Ability to balance topside and in-water research objectives. Ability to participate in logistical planning as liaison with scientists, vessel personnel, technical personnel and others. 3
Communication - Ability to communicate with scientists, academic administrators, mission team members, vendors and the general public. Ability to complete appropriate documentation, logs, inventory and reports. UNCW Scientific Diving Specialist 12524 Ability to participate with research Ability to review research or operations team in daily planning proposal and communicates with to ensure understanding of project external program clients, (e.g. and safety guidelines. Ability to scientists and vendors) to ensure collect and document information science or operations objectives for internal and external reporting. are met within appropriate Ability to complete dive logs and standards. Ability to organize, records. tabulate and analyze data for internal and external reporting or general out reach activities. Ability to serve as the liaison and arbitrator between scientists, technical staff, vessel personnel and vendors; Ability to prepare annual and technical reports for internal and external agencies. Ability to prepare and presents technical documents. Ability to prepare and present presentations to professional agencies and organizations. Ability to maintain dive facilities Ability to plan and monitor including supplies and equipment to resources needed to operate the industry standards. Knowledge of dive locker and ancillary and ability to implement quality facilities. Ability to maintain assurances and quality control inventory control and coordinate procedures. Ability to comply with space, field equipment and safety measures and guidelines such facilities. Ability to evaluate and as annual inspections/certifications, modify QA/QC procedures; and treatment of flammable Ability to coordinate and trains materials and hazardous waste. others to ensure compliance with Ability to operate within assigned safety measures and guidelines. budget and identifies potential cost savings. Facility Management - Ability to provide oversight of technical programs, administrative and operational activities of dive lockers, ancillary equipment, and support facilities. Ability to coordinate and manage facilities, equipment supplies and related resources; understands and complies with safety measures to maintain a safe environment. Ability to manage dive locker and ancillary facilities, including budget and personnel. Ability to establish priorities in the use of resources including space, field equipment and facilities. Ability to manage QA/QC and compliance; plans and recommend changes due to new industry standards. 4
Equipment Operation & Maintenance - Ability and knowledge of appropriate procedures for using and maintaining specific equipment or technical instruments used in all aspects of diving operations that meet defined quality, quantity and industry standards in a safe, efficient and effective manner. UNCW Scientific Diving Specialist 12524 Working knowledge of and Considerable knowledge of and ability to operate and maintain a experience with multiple systems variety of specific and technical required to facilitate the entire diving equipment used in scientific operations. Ability to serve as the diving operations. Ability to lead technical person on one or more perform established diving of the specific diving systems. Ability equipment maintenance and to recognize and troubleshoot unusual operating procedures. equipment maintenance and operation issues. Extensive knowledge of and expertise in operating and maintaining systems and equipment within the entire diving operation. Ability to design, plan and implement new components for existing systems and/or designs and propose completely new systems. Ability to serve as a resource for knowledge related maintenance issues. Ability to review, maintain and document correct standard operations, procedures and protocols. Ability to perform demonstration quality skills for training/ instructional purposes. Training/Instruction - Ability to instruct and train staff, students, scientists and other personnel in diving, equipment operations and maintenance including performance of procedures within the scope of the trainer s qualifications. Ability to perform demonstration quality skills for training/instructional purposes. Ability to train others in the performance and proper use and care of specialized equipment such as dry suits, lift bags, u/w drills, photography, scientific gear, compressors and all support equipment required for safe diving operations, as well as all aspects of required safety training. Ability to evaluate skills for training/instructional purposes. Ability to certify others in advanced scuba diving, such as nitrox, trimix, rebreathers, chamber operations, saturation and other research diving specialties including diving related medical instruction including DMT-A. Ability to train others to perform training/instructional activities. Recommended Minimum Training Guideline: Minimum qualifications for the band: High School or equivalent and possession of or the ability to obtain certification as defined by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Special Note: This is a generalized representation of positions in this class and is not intended to reflect essential functions per ADA. Examples of competencies are typical of the majority of positions, but may not be applicable to all positions. 5